Summary: Will the computer systems that support the delivery of vital health benefits to millions of Americans be able to function reliably through the turn of the century? GAO reported in February that although the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and its contractors have made progress in addressing GAO's recommendations for improving HCFA's management of its Year 2000 program, significant challenges remain. (See GAO/T-AIMD-99-89.) GAO also reported that many states' Medicaid systems were at risk. Beyond Medicare and Medicaid, the information available on Year 2000 readiness throughout the health care sector--from providers to insurers to suppliers--indicates that much work remains in renovating, testing, and implementing complaint systems. Also, although information on the compliance status of biomedical equipment is available through a clearinghouse run by the Food and Drug Administration, the test results for this equipment are not reviewed. (See GAO/AIMD-99-136, Apr. 1999.) Finally, information on the Year 2000 readiness of pharmaceutical and medical-surgical manufacturers is incomplete.
